Thomas Aston
Encyclopedia
Thomas Aston, born in 1480 in Checkley, Staffordshire
, England
was a minor noble of that area due to the marriage of his great-grandfather Roger Aston (1370–1447) to Joyce Freville (1374–1439), a descendant of royalty. The Aston family's ties to the Plantagenet dynasty did little to endear them to the Tudor dynasty
.
Thomas continued this tradition as he married in 1508, and spent the rest of his life ensuring that his children married well and that his fortune was dispersed in educating them lest it fall into the hands of the Tudors, especially Henry VIII
, who had the habit of seizing the properties of nobility which had fallen into disfavour.
It should be pointed out that Thomas Aston's relationship to the Aston family of Tixall is in dispute. He is not listed in Sir Hugh and Thomas Cliffords's book on the Aston Family entitled A Topograhical and Historical Description of the Parish of Tixall in the County of Stafford. Nor do any of the Visitations of Stafford show him as being a son of John Aston.
However, the following has been found regarding he and his wife: Thomas Aston married, as shown, in Yorkshire, East Riding. He married Bridget Harewell c. 1508. They had issue of a daughter, Ellen, who was born in 1518 in Cherry Burton, Yorks, and was christened in 1519, also in Cherry Burton. Ellen is shown as being buried in Cherry Burton on 8 March 1572/3. Ellen was married, again in Cherry Burton, to Robert Lathrop (Lawthrop), in 1535. He was the son of John and Margaret Lothrop. One source lists Ellen’s maiden name as Aston, but does not offer any proof or reference. This latter reference does corrolate with the information supplied below.
to Walter Aston
, great great grandson of Thomas's brother John Aston in 1611. He was elevated to Lord Aston of Forfar
in 1627. The peerage continued until 1845, when the last Lord Aston
(also named Walter) died without issue.
However, by this time, descendants of the Astons were already well-established in the United States
.
Thomas Aston's daughter Ellen was married to Robert Lowthrop in 1535. Their grandson John Lathrop
was ordained as a minister in the Church of England
. He emigrated to New England
.
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
was a minor noble of that area due to the marriage of his great-grandfather Roger Aston (1370–1447) to Joyce Freville (1374–1439), a descendant of royalty. The Aston family's ties to the Plantagenet dynasty did little to endear them to the Tudor dynasty
Tudor dynasty
The Tudor dynasty or House of Tudor was a European royal house of Welsh origin that ruled the Kingdom of England and its realms, including the Lordship of Ireland, later the Kingdom of Ireland, from 1485 until 1603. Its first monarch was Henry Tudor, a descendant through his mother of a legitimised...
.
Biography
Aston's father John died in 1484 when he was still a boy, the eighth of 13 children, including three born after his mother remarried. His mother was able to ensure the children were well educated and distributed a generous share of the family fortune to each.Thomas continued this tradition as he married in 1508, and spent the rest of his life ensuring that his children married well and that his fortune was dispersed in educating them lest it fall into the hands of the Tudors, especially Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
, who had the habit of seizing the properties of nobility which had fallen into disfavour.
It should be pointed out that Thomas Aston's relationship to the Aston family of Tixall is in dispute. He is not listed in Sir Hugh and Thomas Cliffords's book on the Aston Family entitled A Topograhical and Historical Description of the Parish of Tixall in the County of Stafford. Nor do any of the Visitations of Stafford show him as being a son of John Aston.
However, the following has been found regarding he and his wife: Thomas Aston married, as shown, in Yorkshire, East Riding. He married Bridget Harewell c. 1508. They had issue of a daughter, Ellen, who was born in 1518 in Cherry Burton, Yorks, and was christened in 1519, also in Cherry Burton. Ellen is shown as being buried in Cherry Burton on 8 March 1572/3. Ellen was married, again in Cherry Burton, to Robert Lathrop (Lawthrop), in 1535. He was the son of John and Margaret Lothrop. One source lists Ellen’s maiden name as Aston, but does not offer any proof or reference. This latter reference does corrolate with the information supplied below.
Family
Through Aston's elder brother John (1471–1523), the family title of nobility was finally restored when the Tudor line died out in 1603. Initially, James I, King of England granted the title of Order of the BathOrder of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
to Walter Aston
Walter Aston, 1st Lord Aston of Forfar
Walter Aston, 1st Lord Aston of Forfar was born in Staffordshire, England, about 1584, a son of Sir Edward Aston of Tixall and Anne Lucy of Charlecote Park....
, great great grandson of Thomas's brother John Aston in 1611. He was elevated to Lord Aston of Forfar
Lord Aston of Forfar
Lord Aston of Forfar was a title in the Peerage of Scotland that was created on 28 November 1627 for Sir Walter Aston, Bt, who had been a baronet of Tixall Hall, Staffordshire on 22 May 1611...
in 1627. The peerage continued until 1845, when the last Lord Aston
Walter Aston, 9th Lord Aston of Forfar
Walter Aston, 9th Lord Aston of Forfar was a son of Walter Aston, 8th Lord Aston of Forfar, and Anne Hutchinson. He was an ordained clergyman of the Church of England, and became the Vicar of Tardebigge, Worcestershire and Tamworth, Warwickshire.He married June 15, 1802, to Elizabeth Haines,...
(also named Walter) died without issue.
However, by this time, descendants of the Astons were already well-established in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Thomas Aston's daughter Ellen was married to Robert Lowthrop in 1535. Their grandson John Lathrop
John Lathrop
John Lathrop is the name of:* John Lothropp , British clergy* John Lathrop , of Boston, Mass* John Hiram Lathrop , educator...
was ordained as a minister in the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. He emigrated to New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
.